Can you recall the initial enthusiasm you had for your child’s first piano or music lessons? The first book for beginners, the first songs? Did you sit in your practice session every day or pass words of encouragement through the door?
A lot has happened since then, your child’s play has gone from strength to strength, but maybe you have a hard time fostering regular daily practice time, or maybe you just didn’t achieve the success you hoped for on your last music test.
Well, here are some tips to get you both back on track.
1. Establish regular daily practice sessions
Organizing a session every day of the week may not work for you, so setting three or four times, realistically half an hour in a day, several times a week between lessons, can and does have a big impact. in your child’s development. as a musician for several months. Your music teacher should notice the difference and approve the comment. Practice may not lead to perfection, but it will increase confidence, enjoyment, and musicianship.
2. Use each practice session wisely.
Start with a short slow and gentle warm-up: long notes for wind players, perhaps sight reading some hymns on the piano, running slowly through two-octave scales, or playing an inspiring piece like Bach’s first prelude, or his Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. Take a moment to feel flexible and decide what it is you want to achieve in particular this week. Next, start with a slow piece, maybe start with some difficult bars in the middle section, or play the ending dramatically! Always work towards a dynamic performance! Now play a piece that is easy for you. How could you improve it? Record or videotape yourself! Continue with two more difficult pieces, a few bars over and over at higher speed. Add a little scaling practice, slow, steady, confident. Finish up by heating up a piece that you really like. Stop feeling motivated and good about yourself!
3. Have someone listen to your practice session.
Once a week, ask a supportive friend, teacher, or family member to listen to a few moments from your practice and comment sensitively. Do you feel an improvement over last week? Are you still excited? Does the music follow your personality?
4. Develop realistic schedules with your teacher.
The main failure of my piano and other music lessons as a student was simply that my tutors expected too much from me week after week. I constantly struggled under the deep impression that I was lazy and not up to the task. After more than twenty years teaching all ages, levels and abilities, I know how false this method was and I strive to stay in tune with the needs of each student each week. Encouragement is paramount. I suggest practicing ideas to track the amount of time the student has: everyone learns at their own pace.
5. Work mostly on pieces that you really like!
As a student, I worked on exams and performance prep with my teachers, but privately I spent hours learning Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven sonatas, jazz standards, and later blues and boogie music! You’ll play for hours effortlessly if you love the songs you choose. So do your teacher’s homework, do some scales, but immerse yourself in the music you love! That’s why you have lessons! Learn to play for pleasure.
6. Use YouTube to find pieces you like.
It can be very inspiring to spend some time tracking videos played by both students and concert musicians. Watch your body language – be flexible and relaxed when you play. Write a wish list of ten songs that you want to master!
7. Play the test pieces out to your friends and family before the test.
Try to choose contrasting pieces that suit your personality well. Try to have them ready a week or two before test day and organize a private performance for some of your family members. Help your nerves, and they will love hearing you play!
8. Get ready for test day!
Plan ahead and get there early so you can warm up, feel safe! Play to dazzle, entertain and delight the examiner! Learn from past exam mistakes and show your best laid back style. An opportunity to make a big impression! If one scale or piece doesn’t go well, zone it out and try to play the next one beautifully.
We develop our ability to play and perform well through years of trial and error. Essentially, you want to enjoy music for yourself as a challenge and relaxation, as well as a means of personal expression. Don’t let anyone stop you. Listen to advice, but ultimately trust your own judgment.
Music practice and exam preparation enable a young musician to calm his nerves, determine his own musical style, focus on his strengths, learn new pieces, and expand his enjoyment of the arts. The benefits of multi-year music lessons are priceless in teaching orderly preparation, gaining confidence, developing technical difficulties, and participating in performance.
Give your child the space, time, and encouragement he needs to acquire good musical skills, and remember that it takes years to become a fully competent musician.
